Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus reveals hospital staff's 'inappropriate' act that derailed her plans to keep her cancer scare a secret
- Required surgery after hip injury
- I wanted to keep the fear a secret
- Was forced onto the front foot
Australian Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus planned to take on her toughest challenge yet in private as she battled cancer fears.
Titmus underwent surgery earlier this year to remove benign tumors in her ovary, a procedure that could have ended the 23-year-old's chances of one day becoming a mother.
It was a terrifying proposal and one she wanted to hide from the media and her fans.
Once at the hospital, however, she feared star-struck staff seeking selfies and autographs could lead to her condition being leaked.
So Titmus decided to come forward and reveal her ordeal through her social media channels to take control of the story and openly share her experiences.
Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus posted this photo from the hospital as she underwent surgery to remove tumors after a hip injury
The world record holder and Olympic champion wanted to be at the forefront of her challenge so her ordeal couldn't be leaked to the media
“I was told there was a risk, and that because the growth was so large they could also remove the ovary,” she said.
“It was hard to put on that brave face, and I got into something that was quite scary for me and I hadn't put into words how scary it was.
'It wasn't until I was in hospital that nurses started asking me for photos and asking me to sign things before surgery, which I don't think is really necessary.
“I was there with my mother, and I thought, it's going to get out that I was in the hospital.”
'I had never had surgery before and this had nothing to do with my sport, this was unrelated and could affect my life later.
“I just wanted to normalize the conversation and women's health, and I think people forget that as an athlete you're so concerned about your body and how it trains and fuels you to train, and you forget about the other goal.”
Titmus, now fully healthy and fit again, was concerned that the star-struck hospital supplies would reveal that she had to undergo surgery
The pool queen broke the devastating news about her anxiety to her followers on Instagram
Motherhood may be on the horizon for Titmus, but with her health problems in the rearview mirror, her sights are firmly set on Paris 2024.
The upcoming clash between Titmus, 17-year-old Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh and American star Katie Ledecky is already generating excitement as one of the must-see events.
Describing it as an ominous warning may sound cliché, but the power of Titmus' message to her competitors is undeniable as she shifts into competitive mode.
“I really believe I will be in my best shape physically and mentally for these Games next year,” she said.
'I really believe these can be my Games.'